Michel scored on a penalty kick in the 84th minute as FC Dallas beat the Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 to advance in the MLS Cup playoffs.

Three quick thoughts after FC Dallas ended the Vancouver Whitecaps season in controversial fashion with a 2-1 win at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, where FCD will face the Seattle Sounders on Sunday (9 p,m. ET, ESPN2/WatchESPN) in the first game of the two-leg Western Conference semifinals.

Michel scored on a penalty kick in the 84th minute as FC Dallas beat the Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 to advance in the MLS Cup playoffs.

FRISCO, Texas -- Michel scored on a penalty kick in the 84th minute and FC Dallas beat the Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 on Wednesday night to advance in the MLS Cup playoffs.

Dallas was awarded the penalty kick after Vancouver's Kendall Waston was whistled for a handball inside the penalty area.

Dallas (17-12-6) took a 1-0 lead in the 40th minute on Tesho Akindele's slotted shot. Mauro Diaz dribbled through two defenders near midfield, worked his way down the field and fed an open Akindele inside the...